Timberwolves name Ernest Scott as head coach of Iowa Wolves G League team

The Minnesota Timberwolves today named Ernest Scott as Head Coach of the Iowa Wolves, the team’s G League affiliate.

Minnesota also announced the promotion of Nathan Bubes to Assistant Coach and Michael DiBenedetto to Assistant Coach/Director of Operations for the Wolves.

“I couldn’t be happier for Ernest, Nathan, and Michael to take on these new roles with our team in Iowa and continue to develop our young players,” said Timberwolves Director of Player Personnel /Iowa Wolves General Manager Jonathan Wallace. “Ernest has worked hard to earn this role and has developed great relationships with players, staff and the community in Iowa. We look forward to Nathan and Michael joining him in Des Moines as we prepare for the upcoming season.”

“I am proud of the professional development of Ernest, Nathan and Michael to lead them to their new positions with the Iowa Wolves,” said Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch. “We are excited for the future of our G League team and know that these three will do a phenomenal job leading our program in Iowa.”

“I am grateful to be named the Head Coach of the Iowa Wolves and represent the Timberwolves organization in the best light possible,” Scott said. “I’m excited to continue being a part of the community in Des Moines and execute the vision and goals of Coach Finch and the Timberwolves in everything we do on and off the court.”

Raptors sign Garrett Temple, Mouhamadou Gueye and Kevin Obanor

The Toronto Raptors have signed guard-forward Garrett Temple, and forwards Mouhamadou Gueye and Kevin Obanor.

Both Gueye and Obanor recently played for the Raptors at NBA Summer League 2023 in Las Vegas.

Temple, 6-foot-5, 190 pounds, spent last year with New Orleans and has played 13 seasons in the NBA (2009-11, 2012-23) with 11 teams – Houston, Sacramento, San Antonio, Milwaukee, Charlotte, Washington, Memphis, LA Clippers, Brooklyn, Chicago and New Orleans. He owns career averages of 6.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 20.9 minutes in 716 games (288 starts). Temple also played one season overseas, appearing in 28 games with Novipiù Casale Monferrato in Italy during the 2011-12 campaign.

A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Temple went undrafted in 2009 before signing with the Rockets. He played collegiately at Louisiana State University (2005-09), where he left LSU as the all-time leader in games played (134), starts (131) and minutes played (4,432). As a senior, Temple was named Second Team All-SEC and earned SEC All-Defensive Team honours for the second straight year.

Gueye, 6-foot-9, 210 pounds, averaged 8.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.9 blocks and 20.7 minutes in 29 Showcase Cup and regular season games with the Texas Legends in the NBA G League last season. He shot .576 (102-177) from the field and scored in double figures 13 times. A native of Staten Island, New York, Gueye played two seasons at Stony Brook (2019-21) before transferring to Pittsburgh (2021-22) where he became the first player in Panthers history to lead the team in both three-point field goals (43) and blocks (67) in the same season.

Obanor, 6-foot-8, 235 pounds, was an All-Big 12 Honourable Mention last season after averaging team highs of 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 31.0 minutes in 32 games (all starts) as a fifth-year senior at Texas Tech. He scored in double digits in 24 contests, including 20 or more eight times, and recorded two double-doubles. The Houston native played three seasons at Oral Roberts (2018-21) prior to transferring to Texas Tech for his final two years of college eligibility (2021-23).

On the Heat starting power forward spot

Per the South Florida Sun Sentinel:

It possibly could wind up like during the playoffs, where it’s situational, with Kevin Love starting against bigger front lines and Caleb Martin starting against small-ball alignments. But Erik Spoelstra has shown during the regular season that lineup continuity is the preference. Still, several factors could come into play. Foremost, if Jimmy Butler misses the expected 20 or so games, then Caleb could be the option to start at small forward (if it’s not Josh Richardson). And I also could envision Spoelstra toying with Love as his backup center, which could reduce the chance of Kevin starting. Still lots of moving parts, and lots of time before a decision is needed. Heck, Haywood Highsmith could potentially also enter the equation at power forward.

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On Cade Cunningham’s return from injury for the Pistons

Per the Detroit Free Press:

Last season, the Detroit Pistons’ season was largely derailed with Cade Cunningham’s season-ending shin surgery.

But Cunningham has reportedly fully recovered, and the third-year guard will play for the USA Select Team in Vegas next month. Clips have emerged on social media of Cunningham playing with other pros this summer.

What does the return of Cunningham, the Pistons’ lead guard, from injury mean for the logjam in the backcourt on the roster?

There is a nice mix of veterans with Monte Morris and Alec Burks, and youngsters Jaden Ivey, Killian Hayes and Marcus Sasser.

Both Burks and Morris provide savvy and experience. Burks shot 41.4% from beyond the 3-point line last season, averaging 12.8 points per game. His role off the bench won’t change.

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Knicks sign guard Duane Washington Jr.

The New York Knicks have signed guard Duane Washington Jr. to a contract.

Washington Jr., 23-years-old (6-3, 197-pounds), averaged 7.9 points, 2.0 assists and 1.2 rebounds over 12.7 minutes in 31 games (three starts) last season with the Phoenix Suns. He recorded four 20-point performances during the 2022-23 season, including career highs of 26 points and seven assists in a win at Memphis on Dec. 27.

The Frankfurt, Germany-native began his career in Indiana, averaging 9.9 points on 37.7% shooting from downtown with 1.8 assists over 20.2 minutes in 48 games (seven starts) during the 2021-22 season. Among qualified NBA rookies, he ranked 12th in points per game, third in three-point percentage and ninth with 81 made three-pointers. Washington Jr. set a Pacers rookie record by making seven three-pointers at New Orleans on Jan. 24. He also appeared in 11 games (all starts) with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA G League, averaging 19.5 points, 4.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds over 32.5 minutes.

He spent a three-year career at Ohio State University where he earned All-Big Ten honors in his final season after averaging a team-high 16.4 points to go along with 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists over 32.2 minutes in 31 games (all starts).

Bucks re-sign Thanasis Antetokounmpo

The Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, July 28 re-signed forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo.

Antetokounmpo appeared in 37 games last season, his fourth campaign with the Bucks where he’s appeared in 162 games (11 starts) over that span.

Originally drafted by New York with the 51st overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft, Antetokounmpo appeared in two games for the Knicks during the 2015-16 season. He signed with Milwaukee prior the 2019-20 season after playing three seasons (Spain, 2016-17; Greece, 2017-19) overseas.

Wizards sign guard Jared Butler to two-way contract

The Washington Wizards have signed guard Jared Butler to a two-way contract.

Butler (6-3, 195) has appeared in 48 career NBA games (two starts) with the Oklahoma City Thunder (2022-23) and Utah Jazz (2021-22), recording career averages of 4.1 points and 1.5 assists in 9.1 minutes per game.

Butler appeared in six games (one start) for the Thunder last season, averaging 6.2 points and 1.3 assists while shooting .469 from the field and .500 from three-point range. He also played in 27 games (all starts) with the Grand Rapids Gold and Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League during the 2022-23 season, posting averages of 16.7 points, 6.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game.

Originally selected with the 40th overall pick by Utah in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Baylor University, Butler averaged 3.8 points and 1.5 assists in 42 games (one start) with the Jazz in 2021-22 while also posting 18.3 points and 6.0 assists in three games for the Salt Lake City Stars, the team’s NBA G League affiliate. He was the first consensus All-America First Team selection in Baylor history after leading the Bears to the 2021 NCAA National Championship.

Spurs re-sign forward Sandro Mamukelashvili

The San Antonio Spurs have re-signed forward Sandro Mamukelashvili.

Mamukelashvili, 6-10/240, was originally signed by the Spurs on March 3, 2023. In 19 games for the Silver and Black, he averaged 10.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 23.3 minutes.

Prior to joining the Spurs, Mamukelashvili was on a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. He appeared in 24 games with the Bucks and averaged 2.4 points and 2.3 rebounds in 9.0 minutes. In 11 games with the Bucks G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, he averaged 19.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 30.6 minutes.

The Tbilisi, Georgia native was selected in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft (54th overall) by the Indiana Pacers before being traded to Milwaukee on draft night. Prior to the NBA, Mamukelashvili spent four seasons at Seton Hall and in a total of 104 games (68 starts), the 2021 Big East Player of the Year averaged 9.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 23.7 minutes.